Quick lock toolholder



' SW1. M, 19548.. c. A. CHERRY QUICK LOCK TOOL HOLDER Filed Oct. 8, 1945 M am 0 H W VA m Patented Sept. 14;, 1948 QUICK LGCK TOGLHOBDER Charles A. Cherry, Berkley, -Mich., assignor to Beaver Tool '& Engineering Corp, .Royal Oak, .Mich acorporation of Michigan Application Qctober S, 1945, SerialrNo. 621,107

Thisinvention relates to 1:001 holders. and mor particularly to holders for rotary cuttingatocls.

In adapting cuttingtools tothe rotary spindle of a machine, the .practice of utilizingone or more :SBtS of tapered sleeves andflshanks. has I becomealmost universal. The 'gradual taper serves to center the-tool, hold'it' firmly in position and act as *adriving means for transmitting the torque from the spindle to the tech .However; where frequent exchange of cutting tools is "required the use of thismethod alone has certain limitations Which the present invention is directed to overcome.

Due to the gradual taper of the sleeve and shank, a slight difierence in pressurelin reinserting atapered shank-may causea substantialava-r iation in thelongitudinal position in which the tool will come to rest,;;and consequently, ELEtODI may not be consistently disengaged and reachgaged in exactly the same longitudinalipnsition. Where close tolerances must be held in thedepth of drilling milling :or boring operations, it is therefore necessary eachtime a tool is -re-engaged to gage astartingvcut before-the depth 'oftcsut-can beac-curatelyset on the'feed controls of themach-ine.

MA further objection to the conventional system'of -tool holder lies in the necessityof using a driftand hammer .toidisengage -a tapered shank from its sleeve. Such operation is both time consuming and clumsy, frequently resulting in tool vbreakage where care is .not taken topree ventnthe tool from falling. 7

Where a-cycle of-twoor more operations on thesame machine-requires the use of different cutting toolsand the cycle of operations is to berepeated in one or more parts, it is apparent that a means for re-engaging. each cutting tool in exactly the same longitudinal position would permitaccurate and consistent depth of cut with out the necessity of gaging startingeutseach timlea tool is -re-e'ngaged, thereby permitting full advantage to be taken of the automatic feed controls-of the machine asvvellas facilitating accurate work on volume ,produ ctioni' by. inexperienced operators. It is .alsoYapparent .that .a means of qu'icklyreleasingja.tool, that maybe accomplished by the'handsof the operator withoutthe use of other instrumentseis.highlyaadvantageous Where repeated disengagement and re-engagementof thecutting tool is required.

In order to supply the need for suchmeans;

precise longitudinal positioning and a method of quickrelease has-been previously accomplished as disclosd-inU. 'S. Letters "Patent -N 0. 2327 9 i899, grantedto Charles A. Cherry; In the latter invention a tool holder socket-'wasiproyided a cylindrical bore adapted to :receive the ggenen ally cylindrical shank of a cuttingetool or cutting tool holder :and through means of a :wedging key, exact longitudinal positioning of the shank was accomplished. Quick release of the. tool or tool holder vvas it accomplished by a locking sleeve; rotatable by hand, the internal lcamming surfaces of which actuated the wedginakeyn i i The principal object of the qpresent invention is to provide animproved means of accomplishin exactlongitudinal repositionin lOf a cutting tool upon successive ,disengagement andmevengagement thereof. i Another object of the invention :is to provide an .improved tool holder withla readily detach: able member; permitting the rapid (exchange of various cutting tools :for successive machi-nir1g operation.

A further. object 0f the invention is to; provide a rigid construction for supporting thev detachable members that .will-utilize the centerihgand sup portingwadvantages of .a tapering sleeve and shank and at Jthessame timewpermit exact longitu-dinal positioning of saidmember. Still another object of=this invention-is to pro vide. a spring actuated lockingsleeve-which; .dur-\ ing operation, willurge the locking lmembers intolfirm engagement. l i A; still.further object ofrtheinvention' is to-provide an :automatic means for unlocking; the idletachable member upon manual rotationofalockingsleeve. c

.Anotherobjectofthe invention is to provide a cen'trifugally balanced tool holder that overcome any tendency to vibrate during 'pperation.

.Ihese andv other objects willappear morefully from the following description ,an -.-by reference to the accompanying drawing "wherein ,Fig. 1.is-a central.longitudinalsection through.

the. holder;

Figs ,2 is ,a sectional View thereof taken along the line22 of Fig.1; l Fig. 3 is ,asectionalview-thereof taken galong theline-3.3 ofF-igolgand .Fig. .4 is a fragmentary sectional view -,=thereof takenalong the line 4-1. 4of.Fig.;1.

' The socket l, the tool holder sleeve l3. andlocking sleeve 20 are assembledltogether to.formga.

unitar assembly which is supported ,withingand driven by the tool spindle of the machine .tool with which 'thetool holder is to be used jbythe engagement of the tapered shank and tan'g (omitted from the drawing) of the member "I within the-corresponding shaped bore withwhich the spindle of the machine tool is customarily provided. In assembling these parts, the spring 29 is first placed within the counterbore formed in the right hand or outward end of the socket I. The sleeve I3 is then slipped over the cylindrical extension I2 of the socket I until the slots in the sleeve I3 provided for the locking pins I6 are in alignment with the holes for such pins provided in the cylindrical extension I2. The relative positioning of such slots and holes is such that it is necessary to compress the spring 29 in order to bring the slots and holes in ali nment. The pins I6 with their retracting springs 26 are then slipped into position and held to press against the action of the springs 26, while the locking sleeve 20 having the tortion spring 2| placed in position therein is slipped over the sleeve I3, the locking sleeve being rotated so as to engage the end 22 of the tortion spring within the slot 23 in such a way as to place the spring 2| under tortion such as will normally cause the locking sleeve 20 to be rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2), so as to normally cause the cam surfaces I9 of the locking sleeve 20 to urge the pins I6 inwardly against the ac tion of the springs 26.

It-will be noted that the conical recesses I8, within the cylindrical shaft extension 9 of the tool adapter sleeve 1, are spaced from the end II of such shaft a distance such that when the tapered ends I! of the pins I6 engage Within the said conical recesses I8, the end II will be held firmly in contact with the bottom of the cylindrical recess III by the wedging action between the tapered ends I! of the pins and the conical recesses and the Wedging action of the sam surfaces I 9 when the tool adapter sleeve 1 is inserted within the assembly consisting of the tool holder socket I', the tool holder sleeve I3 and the locking sleeve 20.

' As the end [II of the cylindrical extension of the tool adapter sleeve I is always held in tight contacting abutting relationship against the bottom of the cylindrical recess II) in the tool holder socket I, the tool adapter sleeve 1 will, therefore, always be maintained in the same position considered longitudinally of the tool to be driven thereby. The sleeve I3 will normally be urged by the-action of the compression spring 29 to the right or outwardly from the spindle of the machine to the limit of the clearance 32 provided by the longitudinally elongated slots 31 in the sleeve I3 through which the pins I6 pass. The tapered surfaces M and I5 of the tool adapter sleeve 1 and the sleeve I3 are so machined that, when the tool adapter sleeve is engaged within the socket assembly, such surfaces will come into contacting engagement before the end II of the cylindrical extension I2 comes into abutting en gagement with the bottom of the cylindrical recess I 0. Due to the amount of clearance 32 provided in the slots 3'! in the sleeve I3 through which the pins I6 project, considerable tolerance may, therefore, be allowed in the machining of the tapered surfaces It and I5.

I In the operation of the device, drive is imparted to the tool holder socket I through the conventional taper and tang engagement of the latter with the machine tool spindle. Drive is then imparted to the sleeve I3 by the engagement of the pinsIE within the elongated slots in sleeve I3 through which the pins I6 extend. The sleeve l3 inturndrives the tool adapter I through the engagement of the ends of the screws 33 With' the longitudinal slots 34 in the tool adapter], As the end II of the cylindrical extension I2 of the tool adapter 1 is held in firm contacting engagement with the bottom of the cylindrical recess I0 by the wedging action of the pins I6 and cam surfaces I9 and, as the compression spring 29 abuts at its inner end against the shoulder 30 of the tool socket I and said spring engages at its outward end with the shoulder provided by the inwardly extending flange 3I of the sleeve I3, the sleeve I3 will always be urged outwardly so that the tapered surface I5 thereof will be held in snug contacting engagement with the tapered surface ll of the tool adapter I.

Within the partially threaded bore at the outer end of the adapter 1 an intermediate adapter 2 is provided, being held securely in position by a lock screw 6 engaged in the tapered slot 5 and by a lock nut 8 tightened against the end of the adapter I. The cutting tool shank or holder, not shown, is received Within the tapered bore 3 and may be removed by the use of a drift pin accommodated by the tapered slot 4 passing through both the adapter 1 and intermediate adapter 2,

From the foregoing, it will thus be seen that a tool holder made in accordance with the principle of the present invention embodies the advantage of a positive location of a tool carried by the tool adapter sleeve I in identically the same position in the longitudinal direction of the tool movement within very precise, accurate and close tolerances so that repeated machining operations of similar workpieces to a desired depth of cut may be held within the limits of accuracy of the automatic feed mechanism of the machine tool. At the same time, the known advantages of the use of a tapered engagement between'the tool and tool holder are obtained without the necessity of maintaining very close tolerances in the machining of such tapered surfaces I4 and I5, which would require very difiicult and costly machining operations. 7 V

Quick release of the locking pins is accomplished by a simple twist of the locking sleeve, whereupon the tool adapter sleeve may be readily removed. The sprin actuated rotation of the locking sleeve in the direction required to urge the locking pins into firm engagement eliminates any possibility of vibration causing, the pins to loosen. The tool adapter sleeve is firmly held in axial alignment and in a positive longitudinal position through the'engagement of the end of the shaft 9 with the recess in the tool holder I socket I combined with the tapered centering and supporting thrust of the tool holder sleeve I3 against the tool adapter sleeve I. This arrangement combines for the first time the centering and supporting advantages of the tapered shank and sleeve together with the longitudinally locating advantages of abutting surfaces perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

Centrifugal balance of the holder is accomplished throughout the construction through the use of radially opposed locking and driving pins as well as the use of conical supporting surfaces. It is the preferred practice of the applicant to provide a tooladapter sleeve for each of the vari- Ous cutting tools required to complete the operations on a given part. This permits the rapid disengagement of each tool as its operation is completed and the engagement of other tools required for successive operations. Each tool may then be set up only once for the operation it is to perform and, when such operation is repeated on the same or other parts, exact longitudinal positioning of the cutting tool and depth of cut is assured within the limits of accuracy of arcane? thedeed mechanism .of the Lma'chineYThus :an inexperienced operator may :rapidly machine as many parts :as iispossible between ztool grinding operations with :a :minimum danger of machining errors in thezdepth of cut.

Whileapreferred iormlofxthe ,inventionisillustrated and described aboyegitiisitobezunderstood that numerous modifications and adaptations maybe made withoutldeparting from the spirit thereof iasidefined in :the claims.

I claim:

.1. -A tool holder comprising :a member adapted tobe held and driven bythe rotary spindleiof a machine, an adapter having means 'to receive and hold the shank-of a cutting tool or cutting tooliholder, and intermediate means for engaging and disengaging and ,for rigidly holding the adapter in .a fixed longitudinal position and in axial alignment with respect to said member characterized by the combinationlof an abutting and axiallyzpositionin contact between adjacent ends of said member andjadapter whereby exact longitudinal and axial relationship -therebetween is established and a further means for centering andsupporting said adapter comprising a taperedconical surfacelin-saidladapter spaced longitudinally from the said abutting and axially positioning contact, lmeansifor mounting on said member inlfixed axia1 alignment therewith but with 'freedomfto move longitudinally thereon a sleeve with .a tapered conical surface for engaging the first -mentionedtapered conical surface, and means for urging the tapered conical surface of said sleeve into-centering and supporting engagement with said adapter.

22. .A tool holder comprising a. member adapted to be held and driven by the rotary spindle of a. machine, an adapter having means to receive the shank of a cutting tool or cutting tool holder, and

intermediate means for engagin and disengag- A ing and for rigidly holding the adapter in a fixed longitudinal positionand in axial alignment with respect to said member ch'aracterizedlby the combination of an abutting and axially positioning contact between adjacent ends of said member and adapter whereby exacttlongitudinal and axial relationship "t'herebetween is established and a further means -for centering and supporting the adapter comprising a tapered conical surface on said adapter located longitudinally outward from the said abutting and axially positioning contact, means for mounting on the first-mentioned member in fixed axial alignment therewith but with freedom to move longitudinally thereon a sleevejprovid'ed with a tapered conical surface for cooperating contact with the said tapered "surface on the adapter, and means 'for'urging the said sleeve into-centering and supporting engagement with said'adapter.

3. A tool holder comprising a member having means adapted to be engaged-with and driven by aspindle of a machine tool, an adapter having means for holding a cutting tool, said member and adapter :being provided with cooperating surfaces for insurin a :positive positioning of said adapter longitudinally and radially relative to said tool spindle upon successive disengagement and re-engagement of said adapter with said member, a sleeve nonrotatably but longitudinally slidably mounted upon said member, said sleeve and adapter being provided with cooperating tapered surfaces spaced longitudinally from said first-mentionedsurfaces,means for wedgin said first-named surfaces in contacting-abutting engageinent and. means for urgingsaid sleeve iongitu'dinally outwardly-of 'said meniberito h'dl'd th cooperating tapered surfaces of said sleeve "and adapter in tight wedging engagemen 1 A tool holder 'comprising a member -having means adapted to be'engaged with and-driven b y a ispindle of a machine tool, an adapter havingmeans for holding a cutting :tool, said member an'd adapter being provide'cl with cooperating surfaces for insuring a positive positioning of saic'l.

- of said sleeve and adapter in tight wedg'ing engagement.

'5. A tool holder comprising a member having means adapted to-"be engaged with and driven bysa spindle of a machine tool, an adapter navingmeans for hold-ingia cutting tool, said memher and adapter being provided with cooperat ing surfaces forinsuringapositive positioning of said adapter -longitudinally and radially rela tive to said member upon successive disengagement and 're-engagement of said adapter with said :member, a sleeve nonrotatably but longitudinallyl'slidably'mounted upon saidmem'ber, said sleeve andadapter being provided with cooperating tapered surfaces spaced longitudinally "from said first-mentioned surfaces, means for ii/"edging" said first-named surfaces in contacting abutting engagement, said means "comprising a locking sleeve rotatably mounted on said first sleeve, a

plurality of radially movable locking pins, said lock-ing sleeve being provided with cam means for engaging said pin-s andwedging them into engagement with said adapter, and means for urging said sleeve longitudinally outwardly of said member to hold the cooperating taperedsurfaces of said sleeve and ing engagement.

6. la' todl #holder comprising a member having adapter in 'ti'ght wedg means'adapted to beengaged with and driven by a'spindle of a machine tool, an adapter having means forholding a cutting tool, said memher and 'a'dapterbeing provided with cooperating surfaces for insuring a positive positioning of said adapterlongitudinally and radially relative to said member upon successive disengagement and re-engagement of said adapter with said member a sleeve mounted upon said member'in axial alignment therewith but free-to movelongp tudinally thereupon, said sleeve and adapter being provided with cooperating tapered surfaces spaced longitudinally from said first-mentioned surfaces, means for locking said first-named c'ooperating surfaces "in contacting abutting engagement, and means'for urging said sleeve'long'itudinally to hold the saidco'operating tapered surfaces of said sleeve and adapter in. tight wedging engagement comprising a shoulder in the first-mentioned member, an internalfiange in'said s'leeve, and acoiled spring mounted-under compression therebetween.

'-7 A tool holder comprising a -*merriber having means. adapted to be engaged with and driven by a spindle ,of a machine tool, an adapter having means for holding a, cutting tool, said member andadapter being provided with cooperating surfaces for insuring a positive positioning of said adapter longitudinally and radially relative to said member upon successive disengagement and re-engagement of said adapter with said member, a sleeve nonrotatably but longitudinally slidably mounted upon said member, said sleeve and adapter being provided with cooperating tapered surfaces spaced longitudinally from said first-mentioned surfaces, means for wedging said first-named surfaces in contacting abutting engagement, said means comprising a locking sleeve rotatably mounted on said first sleeve, a plurality of radially movable locking pins, said looking sleeve being provided with cam means for engaging said pins and wedging them into engagement with said adapter, means for urging said sleeve longitudinally outwardly of said member tohold the cooperating tapered surfaces of said sleeve and adapter in tight wedging engagement, and means for transmitting torque from the member engaged by the spindle to the adapter comprising said locking pins, said nonrotatably but slidably mounted sleeve, driving pin-s located at the outward end of said sleeve, and longitudinally elongated slots in the adapter for engaging said driving pins, said elongated slots being formed to permit relative longitudinal movement between said sleeve and said adapter but to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

8. A tool holder comprising a member having means adapted to be engaged with and driven by a spindle of a machine tool, an adapter having means for holding a cutting tool, said member and adapter being provided with cooperating surfaces for insuring a positive positioning of said adapter longitudinally and radially relative to said member upon successive disengagement and r-e-engagement of said, adapter with said member, a sleeve nonrotatably but longitudinally slidably mounted upon said member, said sleeve and adapter being provided with cooperating tapered surfaces spaced longitudinally from said first-mentioned surfaces, means for wedging said first-named surfaces in contacting abutting engagement, said means comprising a locking sleeve rotatably mounted on said first sleeve, a plurality of radially movable locking pins, said locking sleeve being provided with cam means for engaging said pins and wedging them into.

engagement with said adapter, means for urging said sleeve longitudinally to hold the cooperating tapered surfaces of said sleeve and adapter in tight wedging engagement, said means comprising a shoulder in the member on which the sleeve is slidably mounted, an annular internal flange in the sleeve, and a spring mounted undercompression between said shoulder and said flange, and means for transmitting torque from the member engaged by the spindle to the adapter comprising said locking pins, said nonrotatably but slidably mounted sleeve, driving pins located at the outward end of said sleeve, and longitudinally elongated slots in the adapter for engaging said driving pins, said elongated slots being formed to permit relative longitudinal movement between said sleeve and said adapter but to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

9. A tool holder comprising amember having a tapered shank and tang adapted to be engaged with and driven by the spindle of a machine tool, an adapter having conventional means for holding a cutting tool, said member and adapter being provided with cooperating surfaces substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the holder for insuring a positive positioning of said adapter longitudinally relative to said member and said tool spindle upon successive disengagement and re-engagement of said adapter with said member, said member and adapter being also provided with cooperating male and'female surfaces of substantially cylindrical form having axes coinciding with the said axis of rotation for insuring axial alignment of the end of said adapter adjacent to said member with the axis of said member, a sleeve mounted upon said member nonrotatably and in axial alignment therewith but longitudinally slidable thereon, said sleeve and said adapter being provided with cooperating tapered surfaces spaced longitudinally from said male and female cylindrical surfaces, means for wedging and locking said first-mentioned perpendicular surfaces into contacting abutting engagement, said means comprising a locking sleeve rotatably mounted on said first sleeve and being provided with a plurality of internal cam surfaces, a plurality of radially movable locking pins passing through said first sleeve for contact with saidcam surfaces, said locking pins and said adapter being provided with cooperating tapered surfaces such that the radially inward movement of said pins urges the adapter into abutting engagement with said first member, a torsion spring one end of which engages with the locking sleeve and the other end with said first sleeve and mounted so as to normally urge rotation of the locking sleeve in a direction causing the cam surfaces thercof to urge said locking pins radially inward, each-of said locking pins being provided with a spring one end of which is anchored to the first said member for urging the said pins radi-w ally outward out of locking position upon rotation of the said locking sleeve against the said torsion spring, means for urging said first sleeve longie tudinally outwardly of said member to hold the: cooperating tapered surfaces of said sleeve and adapter in tight wedging engagement comprising a shoulder in the first mentioned member, a longitudinally opposed internal flange in said sleeve, a coiled spring mounted under compression therebetween, and a plurality of longitudinal slots in said sleeve to permitlongitudinal movement of said sleeve with respect to said looking pins, means for transmitting torque from said first member to said adapter comprising a plurality of driving pins mounted in said first sleeve, a plurality of elongated slots provided in;

CHARLES A. CHERRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,024,172 Bergsten Apr. 23, 1912 2,170,610 Shutz Aug. 22, 1939 2,345,884 Powers et al Apr. 4,1944 

